How many LORs are sufficient?

[chargerboy]

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I guess what I'm trying to specifically say is; on average, how many Science Letters do medical schools ask for. the reason being is that my school doesn't do committee letters, and i had only 1 science letter because the limit of our schools LOR packet is 6 letters, and I have already planned all the other letters out. I see that some schools require 2 science LORs; is this the norm or are there also schools that only require 1? i dont feel like going into the admission requirements, so i thought i'd ask here if anyone had a general idea about this. thanks!

 

[ksmi117]

I guess what I'm trying to specifically say is; on average, how many Science Letters do medical schools ask for. the reason being is that my school doesn't do committee letters, and i had only 1 science letter because the limit of our schools LOR packet is 6 letters, and I have already planned all the other letters out. I see that some schools require 2 science LORs; is this the norm or are there also schools that only require 1? i dont feel like going into the admission requirements, so i thought i'd ask here if anyone had a general idea about this. thanks!

Most require 2 science letters and 1 non-science letter, I think. Who are all your other letters from?

 

[bellakk]

Most schools require 2 science and 1 non science if there isnt a committee.
6 letters is too many, they wont read them all. I think 4 is a good number, this allows for an additional letter from a physician or mentor.

 

[Freezer]

I think a lot of it depends on what you have done. We all need the general 2 science and 1 non science LOR. But also some other letters you should consider:

1. Graduate School Advisor - usually required if you had graduate work.
2. Employer Recommendation - if you have had full time work experience in a relevant position, a letter from your employer may be a reasonable expectation. E.g. I am getting a LOR from the Department Head of the College I teach Anatomy and Physiology for.
3. Over the Top Experience LOR. If you have some very unique, interesting, and challenging experience that didnt find its way in you "why do I want to be a doctor" essay... this may be another letter option.

Many schools will advertise a letter cutoff. They come right out on their admissions website and state "we will not accept any additional letters beyond the 3 required." However, if you feel you have additional letters that can help the admissions committee define your character without repeating what has already been said, I'd say give the admissions office a call. Tell them what you got and see if they would be interested in the extra goods. It cant hurt and typically the admissions office staff are extremely helpful and friendly... they have to be, you are their money ticket!!!

 

[link2swim06]

If I have got science credit for doing research does that count as a science letter. My PI knows me well and I know she would write me a great letter. (It would be much better than finding a random science professor that only knows I got an A in their class/ went to office hours a few times).

 

[bellakk]

if she is a science professor with a PhD (even if she wasnt your professor) then yes

 

[chargerboy]

thank you so much everyone for your input. BUT NOW that i am composing my letters, i actually have too many professors and sources offering to write me letters, i'd appreciate all your input:

-an Ochem professor, whom i know writes strong letters for all his students
-an ecology/evolutionary biology professor with whom i've tutored about 5 of his students who seems to be very kind and wanting to help
-my PI with whom ive been researching for about 3 and a half years who i know loves me to death and will write me a great letter
-an AIDS PhD professor who is the advisor to a club that i president
-a well known psychology professor with whom i've took numerous classes and knows me very well
-a doctor with whom ive volunteered and worked with for about 3 years
-i already have a strong letter from the PhD professor who runs the science tutoring department at my school
-my physiology and anatomy PhD professor who i've built great rapport with and is in the process of writing me a joint letter with an MD/MBA colleague of his

so with that, i don't know which 6 to choose from because my school puts 6 max into one packet (which they say is equivalent to a committee letter and is ok with med schools). So my question is: I don't know what to do!

So i realize that the clinical (doctor) letter is a must. Does my PI count as a science letter? I hope not because I'd like to take up the offer from either my Ochem professor or ecology/evolutionanry bio professor - Will any of these letters have a significant advantnage over the other? I was thinking since I have a Bio letter from my anatomy/physio professor, maybe taking up the OChem professor may be a better option? For all of these, do you guys think you can make a suggestion as to which four I should use to round out my packet of LOR's?

 

[redlight]

thank you so much everyone for your input. BUT NOW that i am composing my letters, i actually have too many professors and sources offering to write me letters, i'd appreciate all your input:

-an Ochem professor, whom i know writes strong letters for all his students
doesnt this dilute the weight of YOUR letter if everything he writes is rainbows and lollipops?


-my PI with whom ive been researching for about 3 and a half years who i know loves me to death and will write me a great letter
-an AIDS PhD professor who is the advisor to a club that i president
-a well known psychology professor with whom i've took numerous classes and knows me very well
-a doctor with whom ive volunteered and worked with for about 3 years
-i already have a strong letter from the PhD professor who runs the science tutoring department at my school
-my physiology and anatomy PhD professor who i've built great rapport with and is in the process of writing me a joint letter with an MD/MBA colleague of his

id pick the last six you mentioned. two tutoring lors might be redundant so i got rid of the first one..